I Just Need You Now - Noel/Dee (rated PG, 1250 words)
Pairing or Characters: Noel/Dee
Summary: After a great gig, a familiar face visits Noel with some big news.
Word Count: 1250
Rating: PG
Author's Note: Title from "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum
Disclaimer: As much as I want them to be, the Boosh boys are not mine, I make no money off of this, and this never happened. At least I don't think it did.
Warning: This fic has been known to make not only my friends, but also me, very sad. Get your happy tunes ready for when you finish reading. Big Boss Man & Reel Big Fish work best :)
After a very successful gig, butterhaired Fielding is backstage, gathering his things to go to the aftershow. Buzzing with adrenaline, and no longer drinking, he sits on his dressing room couch and drinks in the feeling. Eyes closed, he hears a light tapping on his door. He opens his eyes to find... Dee?!
He doesn't know if he should be elated of morbidly guilty.
“...Hi!” he squeaks out. “Wh-What are you doing here? Are you alright?”
She sighs. “Yeah, I'm... no, actually, I'm not.”
Noel's expression immediately changes. He still has an overwhelming need to protect his girlfriend – former or not.
Dee continues. “I don't... I don't know what I'm doing. I was gonna come here and congratulate you and go home. But seeing you...” She sighs. “Might as well just come out with it.”
She goes quiet. Noel goes over and puts his arms around her waist, not as a hug, but as support. The smell of peroxide overwhelms her, and she breaks free from his arms. She moves to sit where Noel was once perched on his couch. He follows her, sitting on the other side. He sits with his knees to his chest, possibly to protect himself from the news she's about to break. She sighs again.
“You have a son.”
'It just doesn't add up. It's been too long. How could she not have told me?' he thinks.
“Are you sure it's mine?” he finally asks. “It's been a while!”
“I'm definitely sure. His name is David, he's three months old. He has your hair and your eyes.” She shows him a picture. He stares at it for a long time.
“How could you not have told me?! I would've been there for you! You didn't have to be pregnant all by yourself!”
Nothing made sense to him. His stagebuzz hadn't died down yet, but it was greatly supressed by feelings of confusion, heartbreak, and guilt, guilt, guilt.
“I wasn't alone for the whole thing,” Dee explained. “I found out about a week after you left, which was really what I needed (!). I was going stircrazy – the love of my life had left for some tart half his age, and I was carrying his baby that I didn't even want. I wanted nothing to do with you, and I sure didn't want any progeny of yours. I considered getting rid of it, but I just couldn't. I couldn't do that to myself.”
“Who was with you?”
“A friend of mine from school. Carl. I caught up with him at six months, and told him the whole story. He said he would be there for me, which was nice to hear, and he has been there for me. He's there when I need him. He acts like David's father.”
Noel becomes furious. “I'm his father! I should be the one there – not him! How dare he act like my son's father!”
The buzz had officially died, as did the guilt. Noel was now red with anger.
“Why didn't you call me, Dee?”
“I told you, I wanted nothing to do with you. When you left I deleted your number – all your numbers – off of my phone and out of my life.
“I could've helped you! I can help you! Please – let me help you.”
She laughs incredulously. “I still want nothing to do with you. I wouldn't even be here if I didn't have this situation.”
Noel looks at his open dressing room door, and excuses himself. He goes into the hall and tells security to tell fans waiting outside he's not coming out due to personal matters. The security nods, and he returns to his room, closing the door behind him. He considers locking it, but he doesn't want her to feel trapped.
“We. Are going to work this out.” he says as he walks back to Dee. “I'll... I'll pay child support, I'll do whatever it takes to help David. You never have to see me again, but at least let me see my son.”
“You're not going to see him. I'll send you pictures.”
“What, like Christian Children's Fund? Why can't I see him?!”
“Because I f-king hate you. I loved you, and you f-ked me up.”
Noel is wracked with guilt. He hasn't even seen his son and he feels like a horrible father. He hangs his head and stares at the floor. He can't bear to look at her. He needs a hug by someone who could tell him it's okay. Everything's going to be okay. 'It was a long time ago,' he reasons with himself.
“I'll be there for you,” he says to the floor. “I'm a changed man. I'm not the same person I was a year ago.”
“That's not good enough.” She puts her head in her hands, and Noel sees an engagement ring he hadn't noticed before.
“You're... Who ga—... You're getting married?” No answer. “To who, to Carl?” Silence. “Dee! Please answer me.” He takes in the silence. He counts on his fingers. “You know him six months and you're marrying him. But you wouldn't get married to me.”
She sighs, finally. “I really didn't think marriage was in my future. But he convinced me David needs a father, so he proposed and I said yes. I was swept up in the idea of a wedding. I didn't even think about what a wedding is. I didn't want to get married to him.”
“...Didn't?”
“We eloped two months ago. I feel so stuck, Noel, but at the same time secure that the baby has someone to look after him.
Noel puts his head in his hands, matching Dee. “And you didn't tell me about that either.”
“And now I'm pregnant again with his baby.”
“F-kin' hell, Dee! What happened to you?!”
She starts to cry, and Noel hugs her tightly. She doesn't resist – she needs this. She needs to be held by someone who truly loves her.
“He's taking advantage of me and I don't know how to stop him,” she says into his shoulder. “I need you so much sometimes. Sometimes I don't know how I can live another day without you.
“God, I'm so sorry. I f-ked up so badly.” She nods.
“He can't know I'm here,” she says suddenly, with alarm. “From what I've told him he thinks you're the lowest piece of scum alive. Sometimes I think that too. I don't know what he'd do to you if he knew I was here.”
“Don't worry about me. I just want you safe. Go home, get some rest.” She begins to leave. “Wait! Give me your number, I'll call you so my number isn't on your contacts.”
“No, I can't. I'm not allowed.” She tries to think of a way to contact him. “I'll write you – he won't know. Just don't write me back. Same address?”
Noel nods. They hug again, quickly but tenderly. She turns to leave, and doesn't turn back.